September 2024 Success Story
Tommy’s parents were struggling with homelessness and addiction. Tommy was one year old at the time, and his parents were between living in their car and a homeless shelter. One day, the police found Tommy in the car with his parents, who had just smoked fentanyl. The parents were arrested and charged with child abuse and possession of drugs. Tommy was placed in the care of a relative.
The parents began working on their addiction and were faced with many difficulties along the way to sobriety. The criminal charges were dropped, and the parents made the tough decision that they were better off apart, as co-parents. As Tommy’s mother reached six months of sobriety and was working on obtaining stable housing, there was an incident in Tommy’s home involving his cousins. The Department of Family Services removed Tommy from his relative placement and placed him in a foster home. Tommy’s mother continued to work on her sobriety and other goals such as consistent employment. She obtained permanent housing in the area and began furnishing the place and getting Tommy’s room ready for him. In addition to securing stable housing, she attended parenting classes, therapy, engaged with a case manager, utilized community resources, attended AA/NA meetings, maintained her employment, and subsequently found other employment when it no longer worked with Tommy’s schedule. She continued to put Tommy first. After achieving 13 months of sobriety, Tommy was placed back into her care. Tommy’s mother now has a new support system, including Tommy’s former foster mother, that helps support her health and abstain from drugs. Tommy thrived in his mother’s care, and she was awarded physical custody around five months later. Tommy’s father has maintained a relationship with Tommy, visits him regularly, successfully coparents, and recently achieved six months of sobriety.